Both in my personal engagements and at Clayco, I do what I can to support and promote the arts because I believe they are crucial to our success. One of the newest initiatives we are taking on through the Clayco Foundation is a Future Leaders Fellowship program. This program is in partnership with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, of which we are members.
The Future Leaders Fellowship Program is focused on diversity and inclusion within opera and arts administration. This new program will create a hands-on experience for future arts leaders and administrators from backgrounds that are underrepresented, particularly those who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color).
Over our history, we have valued diversity, inclusion, and representation from various communities and believe in investing in future generations. This program will allow several young people the opportunity to receive mentorship and gain professional experience in arts administration, fundraising, marketing, audience cultivation, and business administration.
The Fellows that are chosen will gain invaluable skills and get plugged into the arts community so that they may have a head start in building their careers. What I love about the program is that it brings together many of my passions—professional development, diversity and inclusion, mentorship, and the arts.
During my recent Job Is The Boss Tour, I got to visit the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in Georgia, where our Victory Village project has just been completed. This was our fourth project with SCAD, which is one of my favorite organizations to partner with because the buildings service students who are learning about architecture, architectural history, furniture design, interior design, preservation design, and urban design. The Sail at Victory Village is a student housing project that includes two residence halls and a parking garage. In addition to the dormitory rooms, the buildings contain lounges, study rooms, art studios, laundry rooms, and management offices.
